- Ecological Agriculture

Institution:

The Evergreen State College

Subject:

Description:

Faculty: Steve Scheuerell (organic agriculture), Mike Paros (veterinary medicine). Major areas of study include agro ecology, soil science, crop and livestock management, animal science, history of agriculture, sustainable agriculture and agricultural policy. Upper-division credit will be awarded for upper-division work. Class Standing: Sophomores and above; transfer students welcome. Prerequisites: Two quarters of college-level general biology, one quarter college-level general chemistry. This program provides a broad, interdisciplinary study of agriculture from a critical perspective of social and ecological sustainability. Field trips to small and large-scale crop and livestock farms will provide the necessary context for practical and theoretical learning. A major aspect of the program will be to address current controversial agricultural topics from an interdisciplinary perspective. Example topics are biofuels, food safety and the integration of livestock and vegetable production, CAFOs, farm subsidies, genetically modified organisms, environmental effects of agrochemicals, and human health concerns. Students will also partner with local farms to assess the ecological sustainability of different farming systems in relation to energy efficiency, nutrient cycling, soil health, and biodiversity protection. We will emphasize hands-on activities-field trips, labs and field experiments-as well as systems thinking, expository and scientific report writing, library research and quantitative reasoning skills. Weekly book seminars and potlucks will focus on the social, economic, historical and political aspects of farming and food systems. Labs and workshops will provide a hands-on introduction to microscopy, soil science, soil biology, crop and livestock biology, and quantitative interpretation of soil and fertilizer test reports. Field experiments will focus on topics such as biodiversity and cropping systems for winter production. Each academic quarter we will build foundational knowledge of agricultural systems. In fall quarter, we will examine traditional and current farming practices, the rise of certified organic production and eco-labels, and ecological principles applied to agro-ecosystems. We will start winter quarter by attending the Ecofarm conference in California and visiting large-scale industrial and organic farms that produce winter crops. We will examine soil health and soil science in-depth. We will also consider how crop and livestock management and farm policy influence farming systems, as well as consider alternatives and possible futures of agriculture. In spring quarter, students will apply their accumulated knowledge by completing their year-long assessment of local farms and perform applied or theoretical research on agricultural and food system problems. Total: 16 credits each quarter. Enrollment: 50 Internship Possibilities: Spring quarter with faculty approval. Special Expenses: $75 each quarter for field trips; $400 in winter for EcoFarm conference. Program is preparatory for careers and future studies in sustainable agriculture, environmental studies and community studies. A similar program is expected to be offered in 2009-10.

Credits:

16.00

Credit Hours:

Prerequisites:

Corequisites:

Exclusions:

Level:

Instructional Type:

Lecture

Notes:

Additional Information:

Historical Version(s):

Institution Website:

www.evergreen.edu

Phone Number:

(360) 867-6170

Regional Accreditation:

Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities

Calendar System:

Quarter

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